SANTA CLARA — More power runs. More down-field passes. More yards, points, and all-around offense.

Do the 49ers have your attention? They should by the Sept. 11 season opener in Chicago.

Training camp, which opens Tuesday, offers Kyle Shanahan time to rev up his most expansive offense in six seasons as coach.

Quarterback Trey Lance is expected to lead the offensive transformation, albeit at age 22, with barely 2 ½ games under his NFL belt from a redshirt rookie year.

He can sling the ball toward all boundaries of the field. He can wiggle into the open field as a runner. He can lead, and the 49ers are counting on him to earn teammates’ trust in the same regard of his predecessor, Jimmy Garoppolo.

Paying up Deebo Samuel will underscore his importance among the YAC Bros. – Yards After Catch – while cohorts George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and a few newcomers reap receiving rewards, too.

Yet this could be an even more run-oriented attack if the 49ers indeed establish a more power-rushing approach, all to keep defenses guessing instead of anticipating the Shanahan staple of outside-zone runs.

Here is how the offense looks heading into Wednesday’s first of 11 practices open to ticketed fans (*projected starter):

QUARTERBACK

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 20: San Francisco 49er quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garappolo practice in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, before the team leaves for Green Bay, Wisconsin for their Saturday night divisional playoff game against the Packers. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 20: San Francisco 49er quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garappolo practice in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, before the team leaves for Green Bay, Wisconsin for their Saturday night divisional playoff game against the Packers. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 

Who’s here: *Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo, Nate Sudfeld, Brock Purdy

Forecast: We have liftoff of the Lance era. There won’t be a quarterback competition for the starting role, and there might not be any sign of Garoppolo, who reportedly won’t be fully throwing until mid-August (be it here or elsewhere in the NFL). Sudfeld, by virtue of his $2 million guarantee deal, is the backup, unless he bombs and opens the door for this past draft’s “Mr. Irrelevant” – Purdy, the final pick at No. 262.

RUNNING BACK

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 22: San Francisco 49ers' Elijah Mitchell (25) is called for a face masking penalty against Green Bay Packers' Eric Stokes (21) in the third quarter for their NFC divisional playoff NFL game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wi., on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 22: San Francisco 49ers’ Elijah Mitchell (25) is called for a face masking penalty against Green Bay Packers’ Eric Stokes (21) in the third quarter for their NFC divisional playoff NFL game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wi., on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 

Who’s here: *Elijah Mitchell, *Kyle Juszczyk (FB), Jeff Wilson Jr., Trey Sermon, Ty Davis-Price, JaMycal Hasty, Jordan Mason, Josh Hokit (FB)

Forecast: Mitchell will finally practice on a knee that required offseason surgery, but there’s no need to overextend him. The biggest mystery is what Sermon will show after a benign rookie year. Wilson was the lead back in offseason workouts. Davis-Price figures to serve as a power rusher as a rookie, and he is coming off a spring-camp injury so camp will offer a better glimpse of his abilities, including as a blocker and receiver for third-down futures.

WIDE RECEIVER

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Danny Gray (86) runs drills during an NFL rookie mini-camp at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, May 13, 2022. (Photo by Josie Lepe)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Danny Gray (86) runs drills during an NFL rookie mini-camp at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, May 13, 2022. (Photo by Josie Lepe) 

Who’s here: *Deebo Samuel, *Brandon Aiyuk, Ray-Ray McCloud, Jauan Jennings, Danny Gray, Malik Turner, KeeSean Johnson, Marcus Johnson, Austin Mack, Taysir Mack, Tay Martin

Forecast: Hamstrings better be ready for an onslaught of routes this camp. The 49ers must hope Samuel, after skipping their offseason program, reports in prime shape (see: 2021, not 2020), unless he’s a “camp hold-in” while awaiting a contract extension. Aiyuk and Jennings already are in a groove with Lance, so this camp is vital for McCloud to get down his timing from the slot and for Gray to open up the down-field passing game with his blazing speed out of SMU. Don’t dismiss the candidates for the No. 6 role – because they’re just a hamstring away from climbing the depth chart.

TIGHT END

SANTA CLARA, CA. - Aug. 17: San Francisco 49ers tight end Jordan Matthews watches drills during practice, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
SANTA CLARA, CA. – Aug. 17: San Francisco 49ers tight end Jordan Matthews watches drills during practice, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) 

Who’s here: *George Kittle, Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley, Jordan Matthews, Tyler Kroft, Tanner Hudson, Troy Fumagalli

Forecast: Kittle’s (precautionary) absence from offseason practices allowed the 49ers to scour for receiving help among his backups. Matthews’ conversion from wide receiver isn’t a novelty act so keep an eye on him. Can someone steal Dwelley’s spot before he enters Year 5, after 40 catches in four seasons? Hudson, Kroft and Fumagalli could surprise. Woerner, who rose to the No. 2 role last season, didn’t practice in the spring but should be OK for camp.

OFFENSIVE LINE

San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams (71) takes part in drills at the NFL football team's practice facility in Santa Clara, Calif., Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams (71) takes part in drills at the NFL football team’s practice facility in Santa Clara, Calif., Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) 

Who’s here: *LT Trent Williams, *LG Aaron Banks, *C Jake Brendel, *RG Daniel Brunskill, *RT Mike McGlinchey, Colton McKivitz, Justin Skule, Jaylon Moore, Spencer Burford, Nick Zakelj, Keaton Sutherland, Alfredo Gutierrez, Dohnovan West, Jason Poe, Sam Schlueter

Forecast: Competitions at guard and center should be among this camp’s fiercest, with no starting spots assured, although Brunskill figures to remain in the lineup either at right guard or if they prefer him at center over Brendel and others. Banks, a second-round ghost last season, took first-team snaps at left guard after Laken Tomlinson left in free agency, but camp will offer more contact and competition against the 49ers’ stout defensive linemen, meaning he’ll have to earn that starting job. McGlinchey, nor Brunskill, practiced in the spring so their return to action will be worth watching closely.

Source: www.mercurynews.com